Tag: Mediterranean

The European Commission offers to foot the bill for taking in illegal migrants from boats in the Mediterranean, seeking to convince governments to share the burden of migrant flows from Africa after Italy’s new government closed the country’s ports to NGO Mediterranean shuttle vessels.

Now more than ever we need common, European solutions on #migrationEU. We are ready to support Member States and third countries in better cooperating on disembarkation of those rescued at sea. We need to be united – not just now, but also in the long run. https://t.co/t59kJ43Ppxpic.twitter.com/HAnwERhWab

Under the proposal, the Union’s common budget would pay out 6,000 euros for each hosted illegal migrant, as well as funding the cost of expert personnel to help process mostly African migrants seeking asylum in Europe.

European Council calls the Commission to “swiftly” explore the concept of “regional disembarkation platforms”, in close cooperation with relevant third countries as well as UNHCR and IOM. Such platforms should operate distinguishing individual situations, in full respect of international law and without creating a pull factor, the conclusions of the meeting of heads of states and governments read.

In order to “definitively break” the business model of the smugglers, preventing tragic loss of life, the EU Council considers necessary to eliminate the incentive to embark on dangerous journeys along Mediterranean. The new approach to the problem is based on shared or complementary actions among the Member States to the disembarkation of those who are saved in Search And Rescue operations.

The new strategy of reception of illegal migrants outside the EU territory reminds experts an Australian systems, functioning both direction – saving lives of illegal migrants in sea, and the same time protecting national borders.

EU measures to curb illegal #migration paid off: illegal arrivals dropped by 96% since their peak in October 2015.

However Italian Interior minister Matteo Salvini announced his interest to see the EU passing for concrete actions, namely against those NGOs who help smuggling illegal migrants in Europe: “STOP human traffic, stop helping accomplices! #stopinvasion!”, he wrote in his microblog.

The discussion over the text of conclusions about migration went through the last night, representing a challenge to reconcile positions of Italy, and southern European countries at forefront of migration flows, and Visegrad Four group, supported by Austrian upcoming presidency, insisting that instead of the change of Dublin regulation and relocation of migrants through the EU, the support and solidarity among member-states can be introduced on goodwill basis. The reform of Dublin is left to next EU Presidency to deal with. Austria Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has already announced a number of initiatives to curb illegal migration.

The EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini ignores the obvious Sophia operation failure in Mediterranean, in spite of the clear will of Belgium to cancel the participation of their vessel in sea rescue mission. Mogherini also pretends to be unaware of the assessment of the House of Lords, openly stating the EU mission has failed to prevent massive migrant smuggling to Europe.

Ahead of the Council meeting the Foreign minister of Belgium Theo Francken clearly stated during a national TV programme that his country has the intention to end Louise-Marie frigate participation in the Mediterranean operation, because of the double message it sends inspiring more migrants to undertake the risky journey in a hope to be saved and transported to European coasts, thus not only saving lives but also increasing flows of the ‘illegal migrants” eager to gamble.

The UK House of Lords report on Sophia mission is even more eloquent in its assessment, entitled: “Failed Mission”. The major recommendation is to disrupt the business model of smuggling networks through required ‘concerted action’ at Libya’s southern land border.

The Council agenda foresees discussion on migration, focusing on the situation on the Central Mediterranean route. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and William Lacy Swing, Director-General of the International Organisation Migration will both take part in the discussion.

Grandi is also known for his criticism of the ‘xenophobic climate’ in Europe vis-à-vis mass migration from Africa and Middle East.

The atmosphere at the EU-Ukraine Summit press-conference was between dull and gloomy, the presidents looked mostly down in their papers, the regular wooden language clichés on democracy and solidaritywere distributed generously, probably in attempt to disguise a poor outcome.

President Petro Poroshenko goes back home almost empty handed: one can’t consider 15 million euro for an anti-corruption project and 104 euro for public administration as a big deal for a 43 million strong population of Ukraine (for comparison Georgia received at donor’s conference one billion euro).

However the financial aid for Ukraine is not on the table for the EU in crisis and serious economic problems of Mediterranean member-states criticizing austerity policy.

The visa-free regime would be a absolute maximum the EU can grant to Ukraine for good ‘home-work’ in promotion of reforms and good governance. But it is only a theory.

In spite of promises of the EU’ presidents #Tusk and #Juncker to conclude the issue by the end of the year, it is a clear understanding at the institutional back-stage that granting visa-free for 43 millions Ukrainians will mean a opulent gift to Eurosceptics.

Neither at the moment of Maidan revolution, no today the EU has a plan of an integration of such a big country into the block.

The negative outcome of the Dutch referendum on Association agreement with Ukraine showed the state of mind in one of the key countries of the Union, awaiting the general elections in March. The agreement of visa-free to Ukrainians, notorious for its endemic corruption with the similar to Nigeria index, would push the votes in democratic countries flee the Union, becoming just an assembly of countries based on geographic, but not values orientated principle.

Giving a eulogy to European Parliament’s president Socialist Martin Schulz, President Poroshenko just aggravated a sentiment of a foul game, going on

behind closed doors of European institutions making arrangement with third parties without the EU cititzens’ consent. It is up to the European Parliament to give an approval to visa liberalization until the end of this year, and certainly it’s president has influence to exercise.

Taking into consideration Schulz’ decision to leave the EP, the visa-free for Ukrainians might be his last contribution to what he calls ‘the biggest civilization project of the past centuries’. A helping hand to president Poroshenko, and also to Eurosceptics Geet Wilders and Marine Le Pen in coming elections in The Netherlands and France, not least Schulz’ compatriot AfD’s Frauke Petry, whose stakes are also at raise.

Surely it is possible to liberalize the visa regime for Ukrainians until the end of this year, in a certain way it will even facilitate the prediction of the national elections outcome next year. No polls needed. Anyway they didn’t show to be accurate so far.

#Trump’s triumph has a direct and powerful impact on Europe’s political life – the upcoming elections 2017 in the #EU key countries, namely Dutch in March and French in May. Both unsystemic candidates Geert Wilders (PvV) and Marine Le Pen (FN) have sensed that their victory as ‘anti-establishment’ politicians can be materialized within months.

Marine Le Pen early congratulations to #Trump, noticed among first from the European political class, beyond doubt are sincere, as unsystemic candidate scorned and ridiculed by the French main stream media, she recognized the fresh wind of change over political landscape.

Clearly #Trump’s victory sets an example for European electorates to encourage them to express their free will, refusing the imposed by establishment figures.

The #EU austerity policy, toppled by failed immigration policy is too much to bear for exhausted Europeans, once upon a time looking up to the #EU as ‘peace and prosperity’ project. A million of migrants from Middle East and Africa, terrorist threat from jihadis, conflicts in Eastern and Mediterranean neighbourhoods create a dramatic setting, naturally forcing the citizens to reflect about change of political elites, who are directly responsible for the poor state of affairs.

This is certainly not a cheerful news for the #EU bureaucrats, who took their luxurious existence with mega salaries and generous pensions for granted, losing feeling of reality in their cosy Brussels bubble.

The idea of endless imposition of the #EU agenda on the citizens, without their consent, and follow up games of ‘second’ referendums as it happened to Ireland, or The Netherlands, whose Prime Minister Mark Rutte seems to ignore the results of the plebiscite, choosing for Brussels political schedule. This modus operandi might come to the end in the cause of 2017 in similar way as it happened in the USA, where the electorate kept the cards close to heart.

Now it is the turn of Europeans to take the destiny in their own hands.

Assessing the perspectives of informal #Bratislava Summit #EU27 Roadmap one has a difficulty to see any light in the end of a tunnel. Paradoxically the first Summit of #EU27 without the #UK appeared to be tumultuous, marked by disagreements, pessimism, and blame-games between the leaders, who with astonishing frankness have drawn new dividing lines among European nations.

A symbolism of a common Roadmap requested by #Merkel can hardly mislead anyone by its highly illusionary nature within a new dynamic situation while polarizing groups of states with conflicting interests created among EU members .

While Mediterranean members complain about #Merkel’s austerity

policy, the East Europeans Vicegrad group vigorously oppose migrant open-door strategy, and its consequences for security, rejecting quota relocating system.

The Italian Prime Minister #Renzi informed press about his criticism of German surplus trade effects, rejecting any common press-conference by the end of the Summit. The crisis of Italian banks is becoming a pressing issue, but so far the #EU hasn’t changed its austerity line, which fired back on popularity of #Renzi government.

The Italian PM position came on the top of the wave of Mediterranean countries discontent with Brussels and Berlin worded in “Athens declaration” (9.09.2016) after conference of so-called Club-Med countries demanding to put an end to ‘Stablitiy and Growth Pact’, thus changing rules of eurozone, meaning the end of austerity imposed by Germany.

Rebellion of Mediterranean and East European leaders became more sound, than before #Brexit vote.

Moreover after the long pause between the #Brexit referendum and evocation of article 50 the warning of Luxembourg Foreign minister #Asselborn to suspend #Hungary from the EU for its dissent were not taken seriously as nobody knows how to carry out #Brexit, and logically one more country falling out would only adds degree of heat to the EU crisis.

Facing the rise of Euroskepticism reflected in a number of processes across Europe with Hungarian referendum on migrants, Italian referendum on Constitutional reform, German, Dutch, and French elections – the whole ensemble of events that might lead to serious reconstruction of the EU project to advantage of the nation-states, especially with ‘Prime-Minister Geert Wilders’ and ‘President Marine Le Pen’. The only way to survival will be in tempering the Eurocrat’s appetite and transferring of powers from Brussels to member-states, and сreating a flexible network for cooperation, in the other words a the notorious ‘à la carte’. The question is if Brusssls is ready for reform?..

However not everyone might be happy with these solutions, preferring organizations without foreign policy and military ambitions like EFTA, who express readiness to consider the UK membership, and might welcome some other discontent EU members.

From Bratislava Summit #EU27 in one year one might witness a birth of new alliances grown from current sub-groups of the EU: the UK and Nordic countries joining EFTA, and the fragilized EU with major subgroups of Mediterranean states, and Vicegrad group under symbolic Franco-German chairmanship.

Finally, by the 25 of March 2017 there will be a big question if there is much to celebrate after 60 years of the EU haphazard integration and galloping expansion.

By the time it might shrink back to its origins to European Economic Community (TEEC) as once it started in Rome in 1957 with slightly different list of participants

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Latest: EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

“Today with the Foreign Ministers we will discuss first and foremost the situation in Yemen. I discussed yesterday on the phone with the Special Envoy of the United Nations for Yemen [Martin] Griffiths on how the European Union and the Member States can best support his work in this crucial moment that could be or become an […]

German and other European Union member-states ministers told Britain their draft Brexit agreement could not be renegotiated. No renegotiation of Brexit deal: German minister https://t.co/OJ8HVPtjIh pic.twitter.com/8JegiQ0crP — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 19, 2018 British Prime Minister Theresa May is attempting to keep the last week’s deal alive and push it through the UK parliament […]

President Donald Trump called a CIA assessment accusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi “very premature” and said he will receive a complete report on the case in coming days. On his trip to California, Trump said the killing “should never have happened.” The report on Tuesday, November […]

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World: AFRICA DIPLOMATIC

On 19 November 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on Sudan, which remains crucial for the peace and stability of the wider Horn of Africa. The Council reaffirms the EU’s readiness to engage in an evolving dialogue and cooperation with Khartoum, depending on progress shown by Sudan in committing to internal reforms, including human rights and good governance, facilitation […]

On 19 November 2019, the EU Council adopted conclusions on water diplomacy. The Council recalls that water is a prerequisite for human survival and dignity and a fundamental basis for the resilience of both societies and the environment. Water is vital for human nutrition and health, and essential for ecosystem management, agriculture, energy and overall planetary security. […]

Describing the scale of the animal abuse in Chinese trade in donkey hides and its devastating impact for local communities in developing countries, especially in Africa, the Members of the European Parliament called for an urgency of action to protect the equidae as an indefensible contributor to harmonious rural lifestyle. During the European Parliament Strasbourg […]

EU and South African leaders reviewed relations and discussed ways of intensifying and broadening their cooperation, at this 7thsummit between the two sides, which took place 100 years after Nelson Mandela’s birth. The summit is an opportunity for the leaders to advance bilateral cooperation, including trade, as well as multilateralism and the rules-based order. The […]

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has addressed MEPs in a formal sitting in Strasbourg on Wednesday, 14 November during Plenary week. In view of upcoming VII EU-South Africa Summit in Brussels on 15 November the EU-South Africa strategic relations and cooperation, peace and security in Africa are among the issues addressed in Mr Ramaphosa’s speech. South Africa holds […]

Wine: Vineyards Paper

Masseto takes a leading role in the Christie’s Auction in Hong Kong with Rare Library Releases and an exceptional ‘preview’ of Masseto 2015 in Hong Kong The ‘Premier Preview Masseto 2015’ lots achieve an equivalent price of € 1,036 per 750ml bottle Masseto, Italy’s most collectable estate, is proud to announce the results of the […]

Benefit auction of Ornellaia Wines at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London brings total of £ 123.000 (€ 140.000) On the event of the tenth edition of the Vendemmia d’Artista project, Ornellaia has raised above of 2 Million euros to benefit art foundations and museums across the globe through the project to date. Ornellaia was […]

The 14th edition of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne in March welcomed just over 2,300 wine industry professionals and journalists. With 51% new visitors, equivalent to 1,171 wine industry professionals and journalists out of a total of 2,311 visitors, the 2018 edition of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne was a real success. Indeed, the Grands […]

Ristorante Ornellaia opens its doors today to the public just off one of the world’s most luxurious and exclusive streets, the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, with the entrance in Sankt Annagasse 2. The celebrated Bolgheri-based wine estate, founded in 1981 has opened its first restaurant with Bindella, its life-long importer and ambassador in Switzerland, renowned […]

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Eleonora Marconi as the new winemaker of Masseto, under the supervision of Axel Heinz, Masseto Estate Director. Eleonora discovered her passion for wine back in high school, when she trained as a sommelier. From there she began studying for a degree in oenology at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona, Italy, which led to […]

In 1991, the purchase of a vineyard of American grapevines led to the birth of the first 15 hectares of the Cru “I Feudi di Romans”, created with a mission of consciousness and awareness to totally respect this land. Today, the Lorenzon company is considered one of the best wine-producing companies in Friuli Venezia Giulia, […]

The smallest Prosecco Consortium established in 2009 is punching above its weight: experiments on native yeasts, promotion of autochthonous varieties and wine tourism. The recently released institutional bottle is the symbol of this steady growth. From 2013 to 2016 Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG has been increasing at a very fast pace, to say the […]

On 15 March the 12-litre Ornellaia 2015 will go under the hammer of the London auction house, alongside first-release Ornellaia Bianco 2014 and 2015 magnums Ornellaia 2015 “Il Carisma” will play a starring role next 15 March when it goes under the hammer for the “Fine & Rare Wines” event hosted by the […]

We tasted: Chardonnay Brut This Chardonnay Brut, has the classic Charmat method of elaboration, which is the second fermentation of the wine, at low temperatures. Clean in color and with greenish features with fine and delicate bubbles. Aromas of tropical fruit, lemon, with touches of toasted bread and some almonds. In the mouth, pleasant, […]

The Miolo Winery is close to finishing the 2018 harvest with a realization: for at least 6 years there was no climate so favorable for the quality of the vintage in Rio Grande do Sul. So far, in this decade, there were 2 harvests of exceptional quality: 2011 and 2012, but none will exceed the […]